What is hydrogen energy and why is it important?
BBC NewsJul 28, 2021
The Facts
Speaking in Philadelphia on Friday, US Pres. Joe Biden announced plans to build a nationwide system of seven clean energy "hubs" to produce clean hydrogen capable of powering large vehicles, ships, and energy-intensive factories.
The announcement puts an end to months of fierce political bickering between states over the allocation of the $7B in federal funds, which will reportedly put the US on course to manufacture 50M metric tons of clean hydrogen fuel by 2050.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Biden administration's plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050 includes hydrogen as a promising tool to fight climate change. In theory, hydrogen could be the solution to produce steel, cement, chemicals, and fertilizer without emitting greenhouse gases. It could also be used to power trucks, ships, or airplanes or to produce electricity. Biden is planting the seed of making hydrogen the power of tomorrow.
Establishment-critical narrative
The Biden administration wants the US to believe that hydrogen fuel is a promising new source of renewable energy. However, when leaked into the atmosphere, hydrogen has a greenhouse gas effect five times more potent than CO2. Equally as important, at a time when we need to quickly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, a large portion of this project will rely on natural gas.